YAHAYA BELLO’S OKENE MULTITUDE: DESERVING OF KOGI CENTRAL SENATE, BUT HAUNTED BY HIS SINS
By Jeremiah Michael/Ebira/Adavi LGA
Yesterday in Okene, the political message was loud.
Former Governor Yahaya Bello officially kicked off his campaign for Kogi Central Senate 2027 in Okene, and the multitude that turned out was unprecedented. The streets were full. Bike riders, market women, youths, party faithful – all chanting.
That crowd is a statement. In Ebira politics, crowd is capital. And Yahaya Bello still has it.
The race is now clear: Yahaya Bello vs Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for Kogi Central in 2027. He declared last December at the Ohinoyi palace with Governor Ododo present, but yesterday’s Okene rally was the real start of the battle.
WHY THAT MULTITUDE MATTERS – WHY HE IS DESERVING:
You cannot dismiss Yahaya Bello in Kogi Central. For Ebira people, he is more than a former governor.
Before 2016, Ebira felt displaced and marginalized in Kogi State. Recruitment, institutions, governance – we were left out. Data is there.
Yahaya Bello broke that jinx. He became the first Ebira Governor. He made Ebira visible in Nigerian politics. For eight years, Ebira name was at the table.
He built a political machine that is still unmatched in Kogi Central – from polling unit in Adavi to Government House in Lokoja. That machine installed his successor, Governor Ahmed Ododo. That machine brought the multitude to Okene yesterday.
By political structure and emotional connection to Ebira emancipation, he deserves to contest.
BUT THE MULTITUDE ALSO NEEDS JOBS – THE UNEMPLOYMENT SIN:
The same multitude that cheered yesterday in Okene is largely unemployed.
This is the core sin of his 8-year tenure.
1. Unemployment Rose, Not Fell:
NBS data: Kogi unemployment rose from 17.6% in 2017 to 39% in 2020. Even allowing for COVID, Kogi’s rise was among highest in North Central because there was no industrialization plan to absorb youth.
Thousands of graduates from FCE Okene, Prince Abubarkar Audu University Anyigba, Kogi Poly, Federal University Lokoja graduated between 2016-2024 with no state recruitment.
2. The Civil Service That Emptied – Died, Retired, No Replacement:
This is what Ebira civil servants discuss in low tones.
In 2016-2018, government did screening. Verified staff fell from 88,973 to 63,870. 8 Permanent Secretaries compulsorily retired, 1,774 workers dismissed, many Directors sent home “in the interest of the public”.
After that, no massive recruitment was done for over 7 years.
What happened?
- Officer died – No replacement.
- Officer retired – No replacement.
- Officer dismissed – No replacement.
- Officer resigned – No replacement.
Ministries became empty shells. A department that had 20 officers now has 4. Local Government secretariats in Okene, Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta are ghost offices.
An entire generation of Ebira youth that should have entered civil service between 2016-2024 was locked out. They are the same youths who rode bikes in the multitude yesterday in Okene. They cheered, but they have no jobs.
3. Salary and Welfare:
During screening years, many workers experienced percentage salary and months without pay. NLC had to cry out.
4. Infrastructure Without Human Capital:
Reference Hospital Okene was built – but where are the doctors when doctors retire and are not replaced? Model schools built – but where are the teachers?
5. The N80bn EFCC Trial:
He faces EFCC trial over alleged N80bn money laundering. He denies it. Case still in FCT High Court, expected to run into 2026. Can Kogi Central go into 2027 with a senatorial candidate in court every week?
THE QUESTION FOR THE MULTITUDE IN OKENE:
Yesterday’s multitude proves Bello is still loved as Ebira political liberator.
But will that multitude in Okene vote with emotion for symbolism, or will they vote with economic reality?
The youths who cheered yesterday need jobs, not just crowd.
If Yahaya Bello wants to convert yesterday’s Okene multitude into Senate votes in 2027, he must answer:
- Workforce Renewal Plan: How will you fill the thousands of vacancies created by death, retirement, dismissal without replacement in Kogi Civil Service?
- Employment Plan: How will you use Senate to bring federal jobs, Ajaokuta Steel revival, solid minerals jobs to the same youths who cheered you yesterday?
- Closure: How will you clear your name in the EFCC case before facing Ebira people?
Ebira honoured him yesterday in Okene with multitude. But in 2027, Ebira will need substance beyond multitude.
We deserve both symbol and jobs.
Jeremiah Michael is Ebira, from Adavi LGA,